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Sunday Notes: I meant to say...

First, to answer the questions concerning the graphic. The picture is a closeup of the sun. I felt it was fitting given the topic matter of the first chapter (which is really the second chapter). I was asked where I get images for the presentations. Whenever you find neat pictures online, save them to your computer. That's all I can really say - you never know when you'll use them. Make sure that you note any copyright restrictions, though.

The fonts are not an exact match, but it is obviously an homage to the book design. As is the translucent red rectangle.

Now, on to the substantive. I was not clear as to why I brought up the temple and God's glory. The point was that in Ezekiel's day, it appeared that Satan once again gained the victory. Idolatrous worship was at its peak and had completely and literally adorned the temple walls. God's glory departs the temple. Jerusalem is invaded six years later and the temple destroyed. Just like with the death of Abel, or the spiritual corruption of Cain's line, or the physical corruption of human race, or the resultant flood, or the open rebellion of Babel, or the worldwide spread of false religion (*phew*), here again Satan appears to have the victory.

Even when the temple is rebuilt, God refuses to consecrate it with His glory. The demons must have been happier then pigs in the mud.

Yet God turns these situations into opportunities for His glory to shine forth in new ways. Just as He took a idol-worshiping Chaldean, renamed him Abraham, and turned him into the father of the Jews, God takes the chance to show His sovereign control over Satan, signally the devil's eventual defeat. In this case, God showed forth His glory in His Son, not in a temple.

That is a big missing chunk from this morning. I just kinda jumped from Genesis 11 to Ezekiel without much explanation, prompting a question. Oops! Hopefully, this clears things up.

All of it illuminates Revelation 12:4, "And the dragon stood before the woman who was about to give birth, so that when she bore her child he might devour it." He was constantly recycling the plans we discussed from Genesis 3-11 to disrupt the plan of God to bring forth the promised seed of Genesis 3:15. When Christ was finally born, Satan amped up his demonic attacks on the region, trying his best to defeat the Son of God. The ultimate goal was to keep Christ away from the cross.

But, in case you are reading this and have not read the first chapter if The Darkness and the Glory, I'll stop there before I give away what Satan's wager was all about.

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